Short Takes: Abduction

A young man finds his baby photo plastered across a missing persons website. A solid foundation for a thriller wasted on still another attempt to renew interest in director John Singleton’s faded reputation, this time via a Taylor Lautner vehicle. There are a couple of crisp action scenes, but from Boyz n the Hood to a boy made of wood, it appears as though Mr. Singleton has reached the twilight of his career. With: Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Maria Bello, and Jason Isaacs.